Editors Note: This story first ran April 8, 2009 and has been updated to reflect current changes.In 1998, the NHL allowed it's professional hockey players to play in the Olympics for the first time in Nagano, Japan. They followed suit at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy. In Vancouver, the NHL has once again sent it's best to represent their countries on the biggest stage.
It's been widely debated on if the NHL should continue to send it's players to the Olympics. I'm not here to add to the debate on whether or not we should be sending NHL players. What I have done, is put together a roster of Americas best amateur players who could compete at the 2010 Olympics.
Obviously, this list is flawed for a few reasons. Number one, there are players on this list that have already turned professional. For this article, I'm going to assume that these players would have kept their amateur status so that they could stay eligible for the 2010 games. All players listed below turned pro early over this past summer, or were college seniors last season. Number two, It's hard to judge if players that went pro more than a year ago would have stayed in school in order to make a run at playing for this team.
Any ways, here is the list...let the debate begin:
Forwards (13, alphabetical order) :
Blake Geoffrion-Wisconsin-WCHA
Jacques Lamoureux-Air Force-Atlantic Hockey
Ryan Lasch-St. Cloud-WCHA
James Marcou-UMASS-Hockey East
Aaron Palushaj-Michigan -CCHA
Rhett Rakhshani-Denver-WCHA
Chad Rau-Colorado College-WCHA
Jordan Schroeder-Minnesota-WCHA
Dan Sexton-Bowling Green-CCHA
Ryan Stoa-Minnesota-WCHA
Eric Tangradi-Belleville-OHL
James van Riemsdyk-University Of New Hampshire-Hockey East
Colin Wilson-Boston University-Hockey East
Alternates (alphabetical order):
Carter Camper-Miami-CCHA
Christian Hanson-Notre Dame-CCHA
Phil McRae-Plymouth-WHL
Garrett Roe-St. Cloud-WCHA
Bill Sweatt-Colorado College-WCHA
Tommy Wingels-Maimi-CCHA
Defense (7, alphabetical order) :
Jonathon Blum-Vancouver-WHL
Greg Flynn-Air Force-Atlantic Hockey
Matt Gilroy-Boston University-Hockey East
Jamie McBain-Wisconsin-WCHA
Ryan McDonagh-Wisconsin-WCHA
Kevin Shattenkirk-Boston University-Hockey East
Chris Summers-Michigan-CCHA
Alternates (alphabetical order):
Colby Cohen-Boston University-Hockey East
Ian Cole-Notre Dame-CCHA
Eddie Del Grosso-Nebraska Omaha-CCHA
Patrick Mullen-Denver-WCHA
Jeff Petry-Michigan State-CCHA
Ted Ruth-Notre Dame-CCHA
Goaltender (2, alphabetical order) :
Zane Kalemba-Princeton-ECAC
Alex Stalock-Minnesota Duluth-WCHA
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